Making it Work with Bruce NewmanI recently attended a very unique networking event that was run by The Westchester Business Connection. Complete with plentiful (and very good) food and beverages (wine and soft drinks), this pure networking event possessed an energy uncommon to most of the networking events I have attended. Admittedly intrigued by the organization, the following week I interviewed Joseph Corbalis, The Westchester Business Connection co-founder.
Thank you for the interview. How long has The Westchester Business Connection been in existence?
Almost exactly one year. We held our first event on September 18th in Yonkers.
How many people attended?
We had 27 attendees. Now, we usually get between 60-80 people at each event.
How often do you hold events?
It varies from month to month. Usually, we hold 2-4 events per month. We’re approaching weekly events.
All of the events are held at night and are reasonably priced (i.e. inexpensive). They usually offer substantial quantities of very good food and beverage.
How many members do you have?
It’s really hard to say. Because we don’t have any membership dues, people can just show up at whichever events they decide to attend.
One of the really exciting aspects of each event is the number of new or occasional attendees who participate. We do have a core group of networkers who attend almost every event, but that usually constitutes a small percentage of attendees. I personally try to help the networking activities of new attendees by connecting them to attending members with whom they might have something in common.
Do you work closely with your co-founders?
Yes. We communicate frequently on all events, promotions and key issues. Grace Borrani and Jaime Garry are wonderful partners.
There are many Westchester-based networking groups already in existence. Why did you decide to create yet another networking organization?
I used to attend many networking events, some more successful than others. I used to attend many networking events, some more successful than others. I learned much from them and incorporated this knowledge into a new type of networking event that comprised high energy, many new people and plentiful, tasty food and beverages. In these economic times, people are discovering or rediscovering networking and the importance of connecting on a social basis – which is our niche.
We have grown rapidly in our first year of existence because:
• we make an effort to have new people meet existing members
• we have a high energy atmosphere. Our events usually last about two hours with a strong emphasis on networking and socializing.
• our events are affordable. Members pay only for the events they attend. There are no membership fees.
• in addition to our website, we use social media - Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to reach our members.
• our members help promote the organization.
How do you generate income if you don’t charge a membership fee?
Admittedly, membership fees would generate a steady income stream for us. However, requiring such fees would have retarded our rapid growth and adversely affect the number and type of people who attend our events. For one thing, we would end up with a high percentage of members who attend events and a low percentage of new members – just the opposite of what we have now. Undoubtedly, it would also have affected the high level of energy and interaction between our attendees.
We do generate money from several sources including fund raising and advertising on our website.
As we continue to grow, we plan on closely examining many additional revenue sources.
Can you please elaborate on how you use social media?
Each platform has its own strength.
We use Facebook for several purposes:
1. to share everything about us – who we are is important
2. as a fan page that allows us to post our events and those of our members
3. let people promote what they do
4. share photographs from our events with our participants and fans.
We use Twitter to:
1. tweet some positive quotes or messages
2. announce upcoming events
3. to meet certain networked/influential people who are local
We have been using LinkedIn for 4-5 months.
1. We have a LinkedIn group and 10 subgroups, some of which are quite active
2. We promote upcoming events
3. We provide our participants with news articles from a wide variety of career fields
Our key approach is to stay visible. If we disappeared for two months, we would lose all of our momentum and find it very difficult to recover. Instead, we use social media to remain in front of our members and to attract new ones. When one event ends, we post pictures and comments on Facebook of that event and begin to promote the next event. There’s no downtime – and that’s the key; channeling the energy and enthusiasm of people to produce effective social interactions and generate new business and relationships.
Particularly since your organization is so new, do you ever have “issues” with existing networking groups?
No. We believe that there is room for all types of networking groups. I personally belong to a BNI group and substitute for about 10 other groups. Both of my co-founders are also long-time BNI members and each participates in other networking groups and events on their own. We believe in networking in general - not just because we run this organization. In fact, I am currently working with several BNI and chamber groups and plan on working with more groups in the near future. Since we can help each other grow and be successful, why shouldn’t we work together?
What are your plans for the future?
Phase one was the building of the organization and the creation of regular events. We’re probably towards the end of this phase. Phase two will involve expanding the geographic range of our organization to expand into the surrounding areas: the five boroughs, Rockland county and northern New Jersey. Furthermore, our significant number of members and events makes us attractive partners to existing organizations and groups looking to enhance their networking opportunities.
Based on the success of our first year and value platform, we look forward to continued growth and success.
Joseph Corbalis can be reached at team@wbconnection.com . The Westchester Business Connection can be found at: http://www.wbconnection.com// . Links to their social media pages are available from their website as are a list of all their scheduled events.
Bruce Newman, an expert on consulting, is the Vice President at The Productiv
ity Institute, LLC and a columnist for The National Networker. Since 1999, The Productivity Institute (PI) has helped clients improve their productivity and income by providing rated outstanding consultants and client-centered solutions. It also provides social media training and strategies that boost productivity and buzz. We also wax cars (sometimes). Subscribe to our informative and free newsletter (circ 7,500+) and read our blog. Bruce can be contacted at: bnewman@prodinst.com.
For more information, please visit Bruce's TNNW Bio.
Published by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter. All rights reserved. Subscribe Free - Click HERE.
The National Networker Companies
It varies from month to month. Usually, we hold 2-4 events per month. We’re approaching weekly events.
All of the events are held at night and are reasonably priced (i.e. inexpensive). They usually offer substantial quantities of very good food and beverage.
How many members do you have?
It’s really hard to say. Because we don’t have any membership dues, people can just show up at whichever events they decide to attend.
One of the really exciting aspects of each event is the number of new or occasional attendees who participate. We do have a core group of networkers who attend almost every event, but that usually constitutes a small percentage of attendees. I personally try to help the networking activities of new attendees by connecting them to attending members with whom they might have something in common.
Do you work closely with your co-founders?
Yes. We communicate frequently on all events, promotions and key issues. Grace Borrani and Jaime Garry are wonderful partners.
There are many Westchester-based networking groups already in existence. Why did you decide to create yet another networking organization?
I used to attend many networking events, some more successful than others. I used to attend many networking events, some more successful than others. I learned much from them and incorporated this knowledge into a new type of networking event that comprised high energy, many new people and plentiful, tasty food and beverages. In these economic times, people are discovering or rediscovering networking and the importance of connecting on a social basis – which is our niche.
We have grown rapidly in our first year of existence because:
• we make an effort to have new people meet existing members
• we have a high energy atmosphere. Our events usually last about two hours with a strong emphasis on networking and socializing.
• our events are affordable. Members pay only for the events they attend. There are no membership fees.
• in addition to our website, we use social media - Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to reach our members.
• our members help promote the organization.
How do you generate income if you don’t charge a membership fee?
Admittedly, membership fees would generate a steady income stream for us. However, requiring such fees would have retarded our rapid growth and adversely affect the number and type of people who attend our events. For one thing, we would end up with a high percentage of members who attend events and a low percentage of new members – just the opposite of what we have now. Undoubtedly, it would also have affected the high level of energy and interaction between our attendees.
We do generate money from several sources including fund raising and advertising on our website.
As we continue to grow, we plan on closely examining many additional revenue sources.
Can you please elaborate on how you use social media?
Each platform has its own strength.
We use Facebook for several purposes:
1. to share everything about us – who we are is important
2. as a fan page that allows us to post our events and those of our members
3. let people promote what they do
4. share photographs from our events with our participants and fans.
We use Twitter to:
1. tweet some positive quotes or messages
2. announce upcoming events
3. to meet certain networked/influential people who are local
We have been using LinkedIn for 4-5 months.
1. We have a LinkedIn group and 10 subgroups, some of which are quite active
2. We promote upcoming events
3. We provide our participants with news articles from a wide variety of career fields
Our key approach is to stay visible. If we disappeared for two months, we would lose all of our momentum and find it very difficult to recover. Instead, we use social media to remain in front of our members and to attract new ones. When one event ends, we post pictures and comments on Facebook of that event and begin to promote the next event. There’s no downtime – and that’s the key; channeling the energy and enthusiasm of people to produce effective social interactions and generate new business and relationships.
Particularly since your organization is so new, do you ever have “issues” with existing networking groups?
No. We believe that there is room for all types of networking groups. I personally belong to a BNI group and substitute for about 10 other groups. Both of my co-founders are also long-time BNI members and each participates in other networking groups and events on their own. We believe in networking in general - not just because we run this organization. In fact, I am currently working with several BNI and chamber groups and plan on working with more groups in the near future. Since we can help each other grow and be successful, why shouldn’t we work together?
What are your plans for the future?
Phase one was the building of the organization and the creation of regular events. We’re probably towards the end of this phase. Phase two will involve expanding the geographic range of our organization to expand into the surrounding areas: the five boroughs, Rockland county and northern New Jersey. Furthermore, our significant number of members and events makes us attractive partners to existing organizations and groups looking to enhance their networking opportunities.
Based on the success of our first year and value platform, we look forward to continued growth and success.
Joseph Corbalis can be reached at team@wbconnection.com . The Westchester Business Connection can be found at: http://www.wbconnection.com// . Links to their social media pages are available from their website as are a list of all their scheduled events.
Bruce Newman, an expert on consulting, is the Vice President at The Productiv
ity Institute, LLC and a columnist for The National Networker. Since 1999, The Productivity Institute (PI) has helped clients improve their productivity and income by providing rated outstanding consultants and client-centered solutions. It also provides social media training and strategies that boost productivity and buzz. We also wax cars (sometimes). Subscribe to our informative and free newsletter (circ 7,500+) and read our blog. Bruce can be contacted at: bnewman@prodinst.com.For more information, please visit Bruce's TNNW Bio.
Published by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter. All rights reserved. Subscribe Free - Click HERE.
The National Networker Companies
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